Rail-joint.



H. F. LORBER.

RAILJOINT.

APPLICATION FILED Nov.25. 1915.

Patented Jan. 1,1918.

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2 SHEETS-SH H. F. LORBER.

RAILJOSNT. APPLICATION FILED NOV- 25,1916- Patented Jan. 1, 1918.

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2 SHEETS SHEET 2.

ARR -r. LORBEROF MONONGAHELA, PENNSYLVANIA.

' BAIL-JOINT.

Specification of Letters Batent.

T Patented Jan. 1, 1918.

Application filed November 2 5, 1916. Serial No. 133,423.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY F. Lon nR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Monongahela, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Rail-Joints, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to rail joints and has for its primary object to provide a rail joint the parts of which are so related as to resist any strain offered by the rail ends but capable of being readily detached.

An object of the invention is the novel manner of associating the side plates with the base plate so that strain may be properly taken care of, while at the same time allowing the side plates to be quickly de tached from the base plate.

Besides the above my invention is distinguished in the novel manner of constructing the side plates and passing a bond element through the plate and into the rail for insuring a good electrical connection between rail ends.

With these and other objects in view the invention will be better understood from the following detail description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is an end elevation partly in section of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view with certain elements removed.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of one of the plates.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of a slightly modified form of the invention.

Figs. 5 and 6 are detail sectional views thereof.

Fig. 7 is a detail view of a modified form of base plate.

Again referring to the drawings the numerals 1 and 2 designate a pair of rail ends each in this particular instance having its web 3 formed with a plurality of openings 1. Each web 3 has associated therewith in the preferred form of my invention a pair of side plates 5 and 6 and. these side plates 5 and 6 are associated with a base plate 7, when the rail ends are moved into position within the base plate 7 that in turn rests upon the tie 8.

For the purpose of insuring a rigid connection between the base plate and side plates the base plate is formed with upstanding fianges 9 and 10 each formed with vertical dove-tailslots 11 and the lower wall 12 of each slot is also arranged at an angle so as to distribute the lateral strain of the rail ends.

To further increase the rigidity of the joint portion each side plate is constructed to rest upon the tie 8 and embrace opposite sides thereof while securing elements 13 are mounted in the tie and engage the side plates. Each side plate is further provided with lugs or pins 11 passing through the openings 4 and entering sockets 15 in the other side plate. The length of the sockets 15 is slightly greater than the diameter of the pins 14 so as to allow for expansion and contraction of the rails.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1 of the drawing it will be seen that each side plate is formed with an extension 16 and the extension of the plate 6 is of a height great enough to allow the wheel to ride thereon so as to minimize the chipping of the rail ends.

That form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 is identical with that just described with the exception that the side plates 17 and 18 are of a length great enough to engage both rail ends and it is further provided with a tongue 19 terminating in a sharpened lug 20 to be driven into the tie 21. The extension 22 of the plate 18 is provided with an opening 23 alining with an opening 2 1 in the rail end and these openings receive copper bond elements In Fig. 7 the base plate is shown constructed of three parts 26, 27 and 28 hinged together at the points 29 so as to facilitate the association of the side plates with the rail ends.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I provide a rail joint that will effectively hold the rail ends against movement in any direction but at the same time allow the parts to be readily removed from each other for the purpose of repairs or when initially laying the joints.

It is further to be understood that the structural embodiment of the invention as a whole and its various features as shown are merely illustrative and not restrictive, since I am well aware that many of the details of construction can be widely varied without. departing from the spirit of the invention.

1. A rail joint comprising in combination with a pair of rail ends, a base plate U- shaped in cross section in which the rail ends are seated, side plates having a vertically slidable connection with i the base plate and a portion engaging a tie, one of said plates having an extension lying parallel to the head portion of both ends of the rails and securing elements passing through the extension and into the rail heads;

- 2. A-rail joint comprising in combination with a pair of rail ends, a base plate supporting the ends and having parallel upstanding flanges, a pair of side plates for each rail end each formed with an extension having a dove tail vertical slidable connection with a slot in vone of said flanges, andfurther embracing a tie.

In testimon'y'whereof I aflix my signature.

HARRY F. LQRBER.

copies or this, tent may b obtained for five cents each, y addre'ss'ing'the Co nmis$ioi1er of Patents,

' Washington, D V 

